- It is safe to change the time you take your birth control pill without risking pregnancy.
- If you are on a combination pill, the easiest way to adjust the time you take it is between packs.
- If you are on a progestin-only pill, you should adjust the time by two-hour increments each day.
- Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more stories.
Millions of women in the United States rely on a birth control pill to prevent pregnancy. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 12.6% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 take some version of "The Pill."
Can I change the time I take my birth control?
Ideally, you should take your pill at the same time each day. But if you are taking a trip to a different time zone or just want to adjust your schedule, you can change the time you take birth control. How you should go about it will depend on the type of pill you are on.
There are two kinds of oral contraceptives: combination pills and progestin-only pills. Here's how to safely change the time you take each.
Change the time you take a combination birth control pill between packs
The most common type of birth control pill is a combination pill that combines two types of hormones: estrogen and progestin. Combination pills work by preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg, a process known as ovulation. Some common brand names are Levora, Loestrin, Ortho-Tricyclen, Seasonale, and Yaz.
If you're on a combination pill, "the best way is to switch the time between the two packs," says Amir G. Nasseri, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Santa Ana, California, who specializes in family planning.
That way, you're free to pick any time you want when you start a new pack, since you're starting over again. After you are finished with one pack, you can reset the time you take it without consequences. "Last month's timing won't matter this month," says Nasseri.
If you can't, or don't want to wait until you finish a pack, you can still adjust the time you take your pill mid-pack. But it's a little more complicated, according to Nasseri, because you've already established a timing rhythm. A rule of thumb: think three hours.
"I advise a maximum three-hour window," Nasseri says. "That's the safety zone in timing."
For example, say you want to switch your pill time from morning to evening. It may take you a few days, but it can be done, says Nasseri. If you've been taking your pill at 8 a.m., you could take it at 11 a.m. the next day. The following day, you could take it at 2 p.m. And so on.
However, he cautions, "This will take discipline, because changing the time each day by three hours can create confusion for some people, possibly lead to forgetfulness and error and birth control failure."
Change the time you take a progestin-only pill gradually
Progestin-only pills, also known as mini-pills, lack estrogen and only contain progestin, which is a synthetic form of progesterone. Some examples include brands like Camila, Micronor, Ovrette, and Errin.
With progestin-only pills, timing matters far more, since they function differently than combination pills. While combination pills suppress ovulation, progestin-only pills work by thickening the cervical mucus to prevent an egg from implanting. This process is more time-sensitive.
The method of switching the timing between packs will not work for progestin-only pills. To be consistently protected from pregnancy, you must change the time you take the pills gradually. Nasseri advises adjusting the timing within a two-hour window.
According to Nasseri, "With progestin-only pills, the time variation is more stringent."
For example, if you normally take your pill at 8 a.m., start by taking your pill the next day no later than 10 a.m. Then, the next day, take your pill at 12 p.m. Continue this process until you reach the desired time.
If you do change the time by a larger window, you'll need to use a backup method of contraception, according to Yvonne Bohn, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Santa Clara, California. Once you have taken the pill at the same time for two days, you will be protected from pregnancy.
Insider's takeaway
Yes, you can change the time you take your birth control pill, but first you must determine which type of pill you're taking.
If you're taking a combination pill, which contains both estrogen and progestin, the best way to adjust the timing is between packs. When you start a new pack, simply start taking it at your desired time. If you need to change the time mid-pack, make daily adjustments within a three-hour window.
Progestin-only pills are more time-sensitive. You'll need to change the time you take your pill gradually. Each day, adjust the time you take your pill by no more than two hours until you reach your ideal time.
If you change the time you take either type of pill outside of these recommendations, it's best to use a backup birth control method until you start taking your pill at a consistent time again.